About TCPR
About TCPR – The Cliff Notes
The Next Generation of Player Development
The Tennis Center for Performance Research (TCPR) was founded in 2017 with the mission to develop a new paradigm for player development and performance based on science and technology. We are pioneering the development of high performance athletes by merging empirically based coaching with Sport Science application.
The TCPR Concept
The Stroke Mechanics Specialists
TCPR specializes in Tennis Stroke Mechanics. This includes the technique used to hit tennis strokes combined with the quantified efficacy of the shots produced – all under variable and extreme conditions. It is the most important skill set in the sport.
The TCPR methodology is based on decades of basic and applied research in tennis stroke biomechanics. The system is enhanced by application of advances in other sport science disciplines. The corresponding images (right/below) highlight our primary areas of research and emphasis in application.
Our approach is in stark contrast to the approach of the majority of training programs in the current player development realm. These programs neglect sophisticated stroke mechanics development primarily because they don’t consider it important and they lack the expertise to address the subject in a meaningful way.
You would not go to a general medicine practitioner for knee surgery… why would you go to an antiquated academy for world-class mechanics?
Biomechanically Engineered Stroke Technique
The cornerstone of TCPR’s stroke mechanics program is the Biomechanically Engineered Stroke Technique (BEST) system. The system was rooted in the academic pursuits (basic research) of Dr. Brian Gordon. Development continued through applied research during work with players on the court. The system continues to evolve today.
In general, the system seeks to define stroke models that optimize skeletal-neuromuscular function in tennis stroke production. Since the system is a development tool, it must define model adaptations to accommodate variable skill sets along with the pedagogy to teach the system to developing athletes. More…
South Florida
From the Headquarters
3D Motion Capture
TCPR utilizes the most advanced system for 3D Motion Capture in the world. Recent breakthroughs allow the process to be “markerless”. Now, after a year in development the TCPR/Simi Tennis Application promises to change tennis stroke understanding and player development in a very profound way. Learn more about the process of Markerless 3D Motion Capture…
Neurocognitive Training
The sensory-brain-body interaction is among the most important factors to success on the court. And yet most don’t understand it… let alone train it. TCPR now offers training sessions focusing on Neurocognitive Motor Control. Focus is on improving response time (reaction time+movement time) and sensory driven decision making. This is literally mind blowing!
Tennis Biomechanics Research
TCPR has begun the largest tennis research project in biomechanics history. We invite players to come to our Court 16 lab by appointment. Five minutes of hitting strokes will provide valuable data for the future of the sport. In return, participants will receive a biomechanical summary of their technique – a win-win!
An article repository about Tennis Player Development written from a Sport Science perspective. Content sections address development issues (TCPR Perspectives), general stroke biomechanics (Tennis Biomechanics), optimized stroke biomechanics (B.E.S.T. System Biomechanics), and concepts from tangential Sport Science disciplines (Tennis Sport Science).
TCPR YouTube Channel
Court 16 Chronicles
The Court 16 Chronicles is a YouTube channel that presents a short-form video journal highlighting research and activities at TCPR. In general it summarizes key points of interest from more detailed content presented as long-form articles in the Truth in Tennis Blog.
Of particular relevance to the tennis community is an in-depth look into commonly held beliefs in the player development industry. Each episode will investigate one of these beliefs through a sport science lens. Subject matter will focus on stroke technique interpretations but all areas of player development are fair game.
Court 16 Chronicles: An Introduction.
Tennis Training
Training Programs
High Performance Player Development
The Personal Training Program is our signature high performance oriented player development program. The program is designed as a stand alone or supplemental solution for players residing in South Florida. This comprehensive program utilizes unparalleled Sport Science and Tennis expertise to develop tennis athletes. Particular emphasis is placed on stroke and lower body mechanics. Details…
High Tech Training
With the recent acquisition of advanced markerless 3D motion capture technology, TCPR is pleased to offer High Tech Training Sessions to build stroke and movement mechanics. Sessions include 3D motion capture, immediate data analysis by Dr. Gordon, and same session on court intervention protocols. This is unique in the world and the most powerful Sport Science application ever produced for developing tennis players. Details…
Remote Training & Instruction
Developing players travel from across the country and world to learn and train in our system. Now it is possible to work with the world’s top applied stroke biomechanics expert on-line. Virtual Sessions allow realtime interaction in live training sessions on court. The Stroke Analysis format provides a narrated assessment by stroke as a blueprint for stroke development.
Tennis Science
Research Applications
Truth in Tennis
This TCPR blog highlights a myriad of issues related to developing tennis athletes. An emphasis is on applied sport science and particularly stroke biomechanics. The internet has exploded with information – most is pure nonsense. Here a trained sport scientist (Ph.D.) uses real data and unparalleled experience in science and tennis to explain stroke mechanics and much more. The goal is to interject some credibility and sanity into the tennis information industry. Enter the Truth in Tennis Blog…
Template Tennis
The best method to learn stroke mechanics is by visual comparison. But… compare to who or what? Pro players are generally poor and unrealistic models. Further, stroke options have never been clearly defined. Template tennis uses 3D motion capture to quantify thousands of strokes, then group and combine them by age, level, and stroke type. This produces a single representative template for each group to empirically define the stroke options, and for direct comparison in building strokes.
Neuro Tennis
The tennis industry focuses on fitness, movement and tactical patterns to develop players. These are important but they are not the critical determinants. The X-Factor that determines competitive success is neuro-cognitive motor control. The speed of integrating a complex array of sensory input into the correct neuro-muscular response is what separates players at each level. This ability is mostly genetic but can individuals improve what they have? We believe so!
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